2025 NBA Draft Big Board 2.0
After five full weeks of college basketball, it's time to update my preseason Big Board with my latest additions, substractions, and player movements.
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Before We Start..
With many draft philosophies out there, it’s vital to understand why I rank prospects the way I do. Recency and consensus bias are part of how draft content gets consumed, and it doesn’t always benefit the overall quality of draft coverage. That’s why I aim to do things my way.
I’m committed to watching film. Therefore, I only rank the players I have seen play enough to confidently grade them. I base my picks on a combination of what NBA front offices look for in archetypes, specific skillsets, realistic untapped potential, and the NBA role the prospect in question is projected to fulfill in the long run.
The long-term impact of a prospect on a team’s defensive and offensive rating is always a part of my evaluation.
All heights and weights mentioned are from the program’s official player page. In an information era where misinformation is a mutual enemy, it’s vital to use one source until they get measured at the NBA Draft Combine.
The First Round
1. Cooper Flagg — Duke
Wing/Forward — 6’9” — 205 pounds — Freshman
Link to Team Bio
Flagg is a superior prospect in this class thanks to his well-rounded game at only 17 years old. He doesn’t stand out as an on-ball scorer but has everything else in his package, making him a clear top option to build around your NBA franchise. The long-term potential depends on how fast Flagg improves his scoring prowess and his limited creativity off the dribble. On the other hand, his quick decision-making as a passer while roaming from serving as a play-finisher to a bucket-getter are pros he can bring to the NBA today.
Flagg can scale his game up and down, and Duke supports and features him in his NBA role. He has the athletic traits, size, and strength to play as a four in college, while he’s best to roam between the three and aforementioned four in the NBA. The lottery winners should prepare themselves for building around a franchise-changing talent in Flagg, who’s still my clear number-one selection, mainly because of his already high-end defensive value.
2. Dylan Harper — Rutgers
Point Guard — 6’6” — 215 pounds — Freshman
Link to Team Bio
Today’s point guard must be able to take over games. That’s what Harper did against Alabama and Notre Dame, dropping 37 and 36 points. He’s the closest to challenge Flagg throughout the season, and the differentiator for Harper is a combination of true man strength and body control, allowing him to create pain touches at will and getting himself to the free-throw line when he can’t create the finishing opportunity he seeks.
Harper has an incredible feel for the game, and it’s easy to see his father taught him the game at a very young age. His explosiveness, despite lacking true speed, is how Dončić forced his will on professional players with more than a decade of experience in his time in Europe. Harper’s craft, body control, and strength remind me of the former Euroleague MVP.
Despite the contact-heavy style of the game, Harper takes good care of the ball. That’s visible in his playmaking, where he’s holding himself back by preferring his looks over better looks he could have given to teammates. The high assists numbers are deceptive to this, as he can force double-digit assists numbers with the amount of runway Rutgers gives him.
The other side of the coin is that Rutgers, traditionally a defensive-minded team, struggles with Harper at the helm. Therefore, finding a healthy balance to be a neutral defender while continuing his advantage creation could lead to an NBA franchise going all-in on Harper as their next franchise piece.
3. Tre Johnson — Texas
Scoring Guard — 6’6” — 190 pounds — Freshman
Link to Team Bio
Offensive creativity, shot-making, and pressuring the rim are three things Johnson can hang his hat on. He’s potentially this class’ best shooter and shows many flashes of good playmaking. That gives the comfort of putting him at the helm to lead a team. Texas’ roster construction isn't optimal to facilitate Johnson’s much-needed playmaking chops, so that’s why he has to work on creating these throughout the season.
Defensively, he's not consistent with his motor, and that’s a result of being a true star in his high school career, creating a habit of skipping a few plays. Regardless, his dedication to the game is at the top. The coaches I spoke with all said consistent things about Johnson’s will to improve and get better. He’s also loyal to his community, leading to him staying close to home rather than taking a better context than what Texas had to offer.
His explosiveness, touch at the rim, and ability to take over games put him at the top, especially taking his strong build, size, and physical profile into account. NBA franchises refuse to settle for average or below-average-sized guards nowadays. In adapting to a positionless and versatile brand of basketball, plus-sized ball handlers are key. Therefore, despite his flaws as a playmaker, Johnson has a clear path to be a franchise cornerstone.
4. Ace Bailey — Rutgers
Wing/Forward — 6’10” — 200 pounds — Freshman
Link to Team Bio
Bailey’s shot selection makes it easy for people to be more critical of him. On the other hand, his style of play would be applauded a decade or two ago. Bailey’s an elite shot-maker and shot-taker. He needs to learn how to play basketball better. Sometimes it’s that easy. His handles are incredibly loose and that’s his make-or-break skillset in the NBA.
He either improves his footwork and finds a few go-to moves to help him through bad shooting attempts, or it’s tough to stick in the NBA. That’s the risk of a high-profile shooter who doesn’t show signs of improvement yet at Rutgers. He’s inconsistent as a rebounder and looks to hunt for his shots. Being a top recruit from Georgia, wanting to play his way is likely one of the ways Rutgers was able to bring him to New Jersey.
Regardless, it’s tempting to overthink and focus on what can go wrong. But people generally forget the NBA doesn't draft ready one-and-done players, and developments starts in the NBA. The most vital part alongside the handles is to fill his frame in the next few years and embrace his role as an interior presence. If he can add good weak-side help or shot-blocking to his resumé while being a neutral rebounder, teams are more willing and in a better position to facilitate his shot profile. The good context for NBA decision-makers is that he’s playing in a physical Big Ten conference, where they will collect enough sample size to complete their due diligence.
5. Noa Essengue — ratiopharm Ulm
Combo Forward — 6’10” — 195 pounds — 2006
Link to Team Bio
To make Essengue succeed, the opportunity to play is the make-or-break scenario for him in the NBA. That’s to say for every prospect, but this applies extra to Essengue. The reason is that he doesn’t have the skill to hang his hat on. He’s a chameleon who adjusts to every situation and finds ways to make winning plays. After speaking to his youth coaches, the film started to make more sense. Essengue was never featured nor taken as the most vital piece. But always found ways to climb up the ladder. The big context-changer is that the French youth ranks don’t like to point out a star of the team. It’s an extreme version of team play where everyone settles into their role.
After he got scouted and brought to Germany, Essengue started getting more comfortable. He plays with an edge and an ‘F you’ attitude needed to collect respect from teammates and opponents. He’s a feisty defender and tough rebounder but struggles to adjust to the game’s speed. With his body continuously changing, the December 2006-born wasn’t eligible for this class if he was born weeks later.
He’s the ultimate long-term forward who can either embrace the role of playing as a true ball-handling wing or defer and be a four in a modern NBA system, where the four is the most-wanted but scarce position. His two-way versatility, physicality, and continuous development are what teams buy. He won’t be among the top rookies, even if Essengue gets drafted this high. But he’s potentially one of the best players in this class.
Original Scouting Report
6. Egor Demin — Brigham Young
Point Guard — 6’9” — Freshman
Link to Team Bio
Big playmakers and NBA decision-makers have always been a great marriage. They love plus-sized ball handlers. For Demin, the value riser is the comfort and confidence he brings to the table as BYU’s leading guard. His improving but still loose handles are compensated by his elite live-dribble passing and advantage creation with his craft and footwork.
He’s not explosive, nor has the full speed and body control to generate paint touches whenever he wants. But he compensates for it with his craft, patience, and great court vision. Despite having Demin this high, there are legitimate worries about his long-term potential as a scorer. The lack of downhill drives put more pressure on him to succeed as a shooter. Therefore, teams must take the pressure he puts on a team’s offensive rating at face value and help him to improve his scoring prowess.
Despite having the reputation of a shooter, Demin struggled to be consistent in the Real Madrid youth ranks. That carried over to his early BYU career, making the numbers the swing skill to either be a top-five pick or fall further down the board. Regardless of the level of playmaking, feel for the game, size, and long-term future as a true point guard, NBA teams won’t let him drop outside of the top 10.
Original Scouting Report
7. Khaman Maluach — Duke
Center — 7’2” — 250 pounds — Freshman
Link to Team Bio
Ignore numbers when you’re evaluating Maluach. His package of mobility, fluidity, physical tools, and strength puts him in a tier of his own as a potential defensive menace in the NBA. He got valuable experience against NBA All-Stars with South Sudan at the Olympics this summer. He takes that experience to fit into Duke’s system early. Maluach hasn’t been in the game for that long, which makes it more feasible for him to succeed. That may sound contradicting, but learning good habits makes or breaks inexperienced players. He has gotten good coaching throughout his career, and he must be picked as a long-term prospect where franchises know they have to put extra scoring at the other four positions to make it work.
His ability to be a rim deterrent and slide his feet against all positions while learning how to improve his footwork to fully bank on his speed makes him one of the rare prospects who can truly guard one through five. His touch around the rim is promising, but he doesn’t look comfortable making plays out of the post, struggling to seal off defenders, or not showing confidence when he’s ready to make a pass. As of late, he lost minutes to the more experienced Brown, but Maluach is in a unique situation where NBA scouts just focus on his development as a player. I don’t have any intel, but from a logical standpoint, there’s no way teams will let him slide out of the top 10.
Original Scouting Report
8. Dink Pate — Mexico City Capitanes
Point Guard — 6’8” — 210 pounds — 2006
Link to Team Bio
Pate brings a unique blend of natural playmaking skills to the table. His wing-sized and strongly built body makes his profile interesting. He plays professional basketball for his second season in a row while he’s still 18 years old. The challenge to overcome for Pate is to be productive and efficient in a less-coveted G League environment.
Compared to last year, Pate plays for a program that wants to win. Improving his live-dribble decision-making and three-point shooting will help his stock the most. Regardless of the above-mentioned, Pate’s ability to generate paint touches with his craft and physicality puts him in the top 10 considerations.
In today’s NBA, breaking down defenses forms the base for a healthy and good offensive rating. When players require fewer ball touches, that’s becoming more valuable. Pate’s too young to fully thrive in a reduced role and must be featured. That’s why his context in the G League while playing in NBA settings is putting him in the best position to succeed.
Despite averaging less than two assists per game, Pate’s true future role is to be a point guard. Therefore, putting his playmaking on display will be the most essential part of his evaluation for the rest of the season. If that improves, the path to be a starter at the helm is for the grabbing. And that’s what makes him a top-ten worthy prospect.
9. Adou Thiero — Arkansas
Power Forward — 6’8” — 220 pounds — Junior
Link to Team Bio
To understand the logic behind this selection, you must go back to Thiero’s freshman season and the strides he made in the process. His body continuously changed. He’s a unique prospect, with the limitless potential his physical tools give him. Coach Calipari took his time with Thiero’s development, where he embraced his role as a defensive-stopper who focused on his shooting. Hereafter, he improved and worked on his passing game. The offensive potential never got tapped, but that changed once Calipari took Thiero to Arkansas.
Despite being a junior, NBA teams still need to treat Thiero as a long-term project. He has the chance to be an impactful starter with his bolstering physical tools, improving self-creation as a scorer while being a much better shooter compared to the last two seasons. Calipari teams always have lots of NBA-caliber talent and everyone sacrifices. But this is the year where Thiero’s patience will be rewarded with a featured role. To give more context, it’s a must to read my scouting report from last season, but make sure you read it here first!
Original Scouting Report
10. V.J. Edgecombe — Baylor
Combo Guard — 6’5” — 180 pounds — Freshman
Link to Team Bio
High risk, high reward. That’s the level of prospect Edgecombe is nowadays. After a fantastic summer with the Bahamas in their efforts to qualify for the Olympics, where Edgecombe has shown he has no problems fitting in between true NBA pros. The FIBA-ruled game helped him to use his athleticism much better to find ways to get downhill. But when there’s no gravity of NBA talent with years of experience alongside him, things get tougher and thus forced to bank on his athleticism.
Teams know they are buying athletic traits and physical tools with Edgecombe. He has shown good passing development so far this season, but without a runway or space, his athleticism hasn’t been impactful for Baylor. That put more pressure on his shooting, which has been underwhelming. If he didn’t show he can play alongside the best, I would have dropped him further down my board. Sometimes, development beats recency bias when looking back years later. Edgecombe has shown enough red flags but still holds a FOMO effect. I can’t drop him lower than 10, based on his summer performance and all the flashes he has shown in high school.
11. Will Riley — Illinois
Big Wing — 6’8” — 195 pounds — Freshman
Link to Team Bio
As one of EYBL’s best shooters, Riley has made a living as a scorer and tough shot-maker. During his freshman year at Illinois, he continues to put up huge numbers. Teams are buying his offense and scalable role, as Riley can take over games in isolation when you desperately need a bucket while having no issues playing off a leading guard. But that’s the risk he carries to the next level. Illinois brought elite guard play from overseas, and for the NBA, it’s vital to understand the context of putting playmaking around him to make him effective.
Teams are hesitant to bet on guards needing to be featured to take the most out of their talents but also complemented with pieces around them. Regardless, his plus size, handles, and creativity make it a worthy bet. I don’t expect Riley to be an efficient double-digit scorer right away, but his NBA franchise should be investing time and playing minutes to take the most out of him a few years into his career. And with the league’s glaring need for more plus-sized ball handlers, I can see NBA decision-makers going for it with Riley in the lottery.
12. Joson Sanon — Arizona
Scoring Guard — 6’5” — Freshman
Link to Team Bio
I’m going with my gut feeling here. Sanon shows red flags of not generating pain touches, and when he gets downhill, we rarely see a projectable runner or floater finish to compensate for his lack of rim-finishing efficiency. But that’s a worry for later in his career. His top-notch shooting ability looks feasible for numbers close to 45%. The quick feet, footwork in setting his feet, elevation, and fluidity of his jumper are among the best I’ve evaluated in recent years.
People who follow my work know I don’t lean on metrics or numbers in my evaluation and use them scarcely. But in Sanon’s case, the statistics match with what the film is telling me. He’s an NBA-ready shooter who’s still learning how to be the best basketball player. And for the creative NBA coaches, those are the players they want to work with. We haven’t seen much of his passing game yet, and that’s something he has to show more during conference play. After having him as a late-lottery pick in my 1.0 Board, Sanon is here to stay for the rest of the season.
13. Collin Murray-Boyles — South Carolina
Forward/Center — 6’8” — 245 pounds — Sophomore
Link to Team Bio
Murray-Boyles has been put in a box as an undersized interior-scoring five who protects the rim. But for the NBA, he’s more than that. He has been among the most efficient freshmen in a successful South Carolina season in the SEC. He returned to school to solidify his game and add more intangibles to offer to NBA scouts. He has excellent length, and his feel for the game allows him to make good decisions against multiple positions. He holds his own against stronger forwards while Murray-Boyles uses his length and footwork well to defend against guards and scoring wings. For the NBA, the ability to switch to the perimeter isn’t the problem. Teams are more worried about the mismatch they give up when opponents take fives out of the paint. Especially in playoff settings, having multiple counters on the floor is essential to win games. And that’s what Murray-Boyles brings to the table.
The non-shooting profile is a value-dropper. That’s a given. But the rest of his NBA future is more than present in his package of skillsets he’ll bring to the next level. Regardless of how his season unfolds, the sophomore tweener finds a way to play in the NBA. And although it’s not feasible now, we’ve seen multiple non-shooters find their rhythm and comfort as a low-volume option in the NBA. Don’t overthink Murray-Boyles.
Original Scouting Report
14. Kanon Catchings — Brigham Young
Big Wing — 6’9” — Freshman
Link to Team Bio
Hear me out. Catchings is a big ball-handling wing in the NBA. He’s still raw and should be considered a long-term developmental pick. He’s in a great situation to develop and play winning power-five basketball in the Big 12. He’s a fluid and twitchy athlete who thrives on the open floor, translating his athletic finishes and also increasing his volume as a shooter. His high-arching fluid release, while he’s also quick to put his last step in and elevate for pull-up jumpers, form the base for his self-creation on an NBA floor.
The shooting numbers aren’t relevant this early in the season. The key for Catchings to speed up his development is to find ways to master his athleticism and get downhill, which is an area that’s lacking as of now. Regardless, he’s embracing his role as a role player and focusing on his team to win rather than filling the stat sheet. And for someone who has been the star his entire life, that’s the mindset to develop into a long-term pro.
Coach Young has top talent and looks ready to develop him into something special. But patience is key with Catchings, who’s a top-10 caliber talent but may need another year in Provo, UT if his development doesn’t continue throughout the season.
15. Thomas Sorber — Georgetown
Center — 6’10” — 255 pounds — Freshman
Link to Team Bio
He’s been on fire so far for Georgetown. What makes it more fun is that the game he’s playing is what will help him flourish in the NBA as well. I was guilty of not putting Sorber high enough on my watchlist throughout the summer. His passing with his back to the basket and as a quick decision-maker and ball-mover inside surprised me intensely. Regardless, Sorber’s a tough player who thrives on collecting rebounds and finding ways to score. His ability to read the floor and find teammates puts so much gravity in his game that he’s hard to stop once he has his mind set on the basket. In the NBA, he won’t have to carry the interior scoring load, but his connective passing, screening, and interior presence with his heavy build puts enough attention from defenders on him, opening up valuable space for shooters to utilize. And especially with his quick seals and fluid hips helping in his spin move, Sorber might turn into a scoring five as his touch from the free-throw line is promising for the future. The drafting franchise is building for the future with Sorber.
16. Boogie Fland — Arkansas
Point Guard — 6’2” — 175 pounds —Freshman
Link to Team Bio
Regardless of Coach Calipari’s history of developing top-notch NBA guards, Fland should find himself in lottery considerations with his combination of an absolute burner of a jumper, fluid handles, and good enough creativity to find ways to get downhill with both his speed and his craft. He’s an undersized guard, and, therefore, it puts more pressure on a must-have elite skillset. Fland is an improving team defender, where his activity and good length allow him to collect deflections as an aggressive defender. But the problem is that he’s not a good defender one-on-one, and his screen navigation has been subpar so far, putting pressure on him to improve as a pick-and-roll defender in a short season. It’s a classic case of a team taking the extra offensive rating Fland brings, knowing that their defensive rating will suffer if they don’t properly build around him. With today’s intense guard pool for NBA franchises to pick from, Fland’s shooting is the swing skill that can put him in the top ten, especially if he continues to be a vital part of Arkansas this year.
17. Liam McNeeley — Connecticut
Small Forward — 6’7” — 210 pounds — 2005
Link to Team Bio
Consistent shot-making and high IQ decision-making summarize McNeeley’s game at Connecticut. He’s the ultimate connecting wing, as his toughness and cutting create space for teammates. He doesn’t have to shoot or have the ball in his hands to make winning plays. McNeeley is an excellent team defender, and despite being a true freshman, he looks much more experienced in a college basketball game that becomes older each year despite a rough start to the season for his team.
McNeeley is consistent in putting his team in good positions to win games. He doesn’t have a clear role that puts him in the best spot to develop in the long run, but McNeeley has the game and team focus to grow into a niche and stick in the league for years to come. Whether it’s a rebuilding team or one that’s making a push to win, McNeeley is ready to be plugged in on all 30 rosters, giving him a clear top-20 grade.
18. Sergio De Larrea — Valencia
Point Guard — 6’5” — 2005
Link to Team Bio
Remember the name. He’ll rise on draft boards throughout the season. For the NBA, opportunities to play as a leading guard get more feasible when a prospect can create advantages in the lane while consistently knocking down threes off the catch. Valencia is an outsider to be a top-4 team in Spain for many years now, while they also play in the Eurocup, the second-tier international league in Europe. De Larrea is in a fantastic context where his team uses him as a connective guard to lead the offense when needed, and he thrives as an angle-creator with his craft while he’s an active and hard cutter. His body changed in the last two years, adding more muscle, whereas De Larrea is comfortable and off-ball screening.
With European teams running more sophisticated sets compared to the United States, De Larrea doesn’t even look like a 19-year-old when he’s on the floor. The differentiator that puts him in top-20 considerations is his good pick-and-roll defense, while he’s consistent in executing his reads out of ball screens with the ball in his hands. On top of that, he’s comfortable taking on point-of-attack duties against both guards and wings, especially if he continues to get stronger. Regardless of the buyout fees NBA teams need to pay to get him, De Larrea has an open path to be in the association next season.
Original Scouting Report
19. Mackenzie Mgbako — Indiana
Wing/Forward — 6’9” — 222 pounds — Sophomore
Link to Team Bio
Mgbako faces a challenge in roster construction at Indiana. During his freshman year, he had to sacrifice playing his best position: power forward. After Ware left, the Hoosiers replaced him with another pure five in Ballo. But for Mgbako, finding comfort and seeing his minutes as a four increase puts him on NBA radars again. He’s a plus-sized ball handler who can find ways to get downhill. Floor-spacing is his primary role in the NBA, where his shot-making off the catch puts him in a much-wanted archetype.
Whether he can make plays out of closeouts, be a ball-move, or switch and punish mismatches with his physicality, Mgbako has enough options to be productive in the NBA. However, on the defense end, he needs to improve his ability to defend away from the basket, while he’s not a good enough playmaker to develop from a ball-mover to a creator. The archetype, NBA-ready shooting, and positional versatility are the unique selling points, but they come with flaws, and NBA scouts need to provide a good developmental plan.
Original Scouting Report
20. Nolan Traoré — Saint Quentin Basket
Point Guard — 6’4.5” — 184 pounds — 2006
Link to Team Bio
I’ve been skeptical of Traoré translating to the NBA before, and a few months into the season, he’s fallen victim to playing in a role that’s too big for him at a pro setting, with a bad context at his current team, and where his peers are surrounded by luxury, his team has a tight budget, and are thus forced to travel in rough circumstances. Regardless, the long-term potential is clear. Against his age at the Adidas Next Generation Tournament and Nike Hoops Summit, Traore outplayed the competition and has shown he’s one of the most high IQ prospects in recent years. His ability to execute playmaking reads with much comfort will translate in the NBA.
However, he’s turnover-prone in a European game where more experienced teams put more pressure on him while closing angles. On a better-spaced NBA floor, he’ll play with much more comfort and freedom. The area that made him lose his lottery status is the non-improving jumper, where the closer he gets to the rim, the less effective he gets. He’s not a good leaping threat, with average touch at the rim. That puts more pressure on his shot, which is simply below average thus far. Context matters, and for Traoré, despite his young age, efficiency from the field while reducing turnovers is what NBA scouts need to focus on most throughout the season.
21. Ryan Kalkbrenner — Creighton
Center — 7’1” — 270 pounds — Senior
Link to Team Bio
Creighton lost the battle of the state against eternal rival Nebraska, and Kalkbrenner’s year has gotten tougher after more opponents started spamming doubles due to his team’s lack of perimeter shooting. Regardless, the weakness in his scouting report is his strength in the NBA. Kalkbrenner has the opportunity to be the second player in history to win four Big East Defensive Player of the Year awards after Patrick Ewing did it years ago. He has a clear NBA role as a modern floor-stretching rim deterrent. Whether needing to guard the perimeter or establish a presence around the rim, Kalkbrenner is ready for the challenge. He has incredible touch around the rim and, more importantly, masters the craft of playing the game without fouling. More teams struggle to find good fives who can play in closing minutes, and especially in playoff settings, Kalkbrenner is a hot commodity and a no-brainer for the first round despite being older.
22. Johann Grünloh — Rasta Vechta
Center — 6’9” — 220 pounds — 2005
Link to Team Bio
Grünloh is the real deal. I saw him play for the first time over a year ago, and he was the first prospect I covered in this draft cycle. Grünloh plays in the top German division while also playing in the third-tier international competition in Europe. The sample size is real, and he has a clear role on day one as a screening pick-and-pop shooter who’s adding interior toughness and rebounding. In today’s era, more teams experiment with playing four, or even five-out, and Grünloh’s court vision, hip fluidity, and two-handed finishing make him a perfect option to make such schemes work. He’s fluid and has great footwork. The screening is at the top of this class. But at the end of the day, his role is a niche one as he doesn’t offer much long-term potential, especially due to his lack of creating plays with the ball in his hands. Regardless, the intangibles are worth investing in, as he has a path to play for many years in the league. Regardless of his absence on many big-media boards, Grünloh is a no-brainer for the first round, as the glaring need for more versatile fives increases throughout the years.
Original Scouting Report and Podcast Appearance (Locked on NBA Big Board)
23. Rocco Zikarsky — Brisbane
Center — 7’2” — 230 pounds — 2006
Link to Team Bio
With elite size and strength, Zikarsky naturally draws comparisons to his countryman Adams, a proven veteran in the association. However, he’s one of the more difficult evaluations I’ve encountered in past seasons. He was dominant against his age groups but looked out of place against pros, whereas he has gotten much better lately, strengthening his first-round status. The exciting part is his ability to play within control, reducing the personal fouls and playing longer minutes. He’s an impactful shot-blocker and rim deterrent, whereas his screen-and-dives on offense add play-finishing options. He doesn’t have to be productive to impact the game in the NBA, making him a safe bet for the long term. His potential rim dominance makes the need to stretch the floor and shoot threes not necessary, as teams are buying an interior presence to make modern schemes with more perimeter weapons work.
24. Elijah Mahi — Santa Clara
Scoring Wing — 6’7” — 220 pounds — Junior
Link to Team Bio
Toughness, physicality, and strength are vital intangibles in my draft philosophy. And that makes Mahi the intriguing NBA prospect he is. With true wing size, Mahi has a strong upper body with broad shoulders. Whether it’s taking advantage of mismatches or attacking stronger defenders in the chest early on, Mahi found ways to get downhill at every level he played throughout his career. After developing through the JUCO ranks, Santa Clara holds one of the most dynamic offensive weapons in mid-major basketball.
The long-term investment is the improvement improving Mahi’s offensive creativity and handles. He’s one of the rare cases that can overwhelm opponents with his power and strength, while he’s showing flashes of using creativity to create advantages. As a two-handed efficient finisher at the rim and selective spot-up shooter. The efficiency he had at the JUCO reigns is what he aims to accomplish in the WCC this season. Mahi is a sleeper but a legitimate first-round-caliber prospect you must put on your watchlist.
Original Scouting Report and Podcast Appearance (Locked on NBA Big Board)
25. Rasheer Fleming — Saint Joseph’s
Power Forward — 6’9” — 240 pounds — Junior
Link to Team Bio
An NBA team is buying physical tools with Fleming. His combination as an excellent cutter, screener, and specialized passer out of handoffs gives him a clear role on day one. He’s the rare case where his offensive role is clear on day one, and in the years before the NBA, he has played a similar role, which gives a good sample size to evaluate for NBA teams.
However, Fleming has several defensive areas to clean up before playing consistent minutes. As of now, an NBA decision-maker will carry the weight of his pros on offense to what his team will give up in their defensive rating with him on the floor. That’s what he’s doing much better so far in his junior season. Regardless, Fleming should continue to rise on draft boards, as the combination of the niche role he fills, the physical tools, and his shooting prowess makes him one of the most-wanted archetypes of today’s modern NBA.
Original Scouting Report
26. Asa Newell — Georgia
Center — 6’11” — Freshman
Link to Team Bio
In a fast-paced NBA game that focuses on ball movement and motion, big men like Newell are potential game-changers when it comes to creating space on the floor. He’s one of the best cutting centers in this class, and his ability to recognize cutting lanes and read the offense helps him keep defenders on their heels. Despite the lack of on-ball skills, Newell found ways to make winning plays without the need to be featured with post-ups or play finishes in the interior.
He’s bouncy and quick and thrives on the open floor. On top of that, Newell is a good screener, who’s effective in both actions where he's screening on and away from the ball while actively cutting to find angles to confuse the defense with their rotations. The long-term feasibility comes from his three-point shooting. After being a 40%+ shooter at Montverde Academy, he started the season slow at Georgia, which makes it one of the swing skills for NBA scouts to keep track of.
27. Drake Powell — North Carolina
Wing/Forward — 6’6” — 195 pounds — Freshman
Link to Team Bio
Powell doesn’t stand out with his offense yet. A rough North Carolina roster construction is a part of the context. But Powell’s best to flourish in a defensive role at the next level. His incredible athleticism, where his twitchiness, quick feet, and leaping ability stand out, gives him the potential to develop into a top defender on an NBA floor. Offensively, teams have to be patient in their development. He’s not a consistent shooter nor an effective finisher when not using his athleticism. Therefore, Powell is a long-term prospect that should be slowly brought to a fast-paced NBA setting. The most vital area of development is to improve his decision-making and feel for the game and recognize his passing opportunities better while improving his shot selection.
28. Kam Jones — Marquette
Combo Guard — 6’5” — 205 pounds — Senior
Link to Team Bio
Jones is one of the favorites to win National Player of the Year. When evaluating his profile, consider his entire collegiate career. His shooting and scoring prowess are the unique selling points. The ability to scale his game up and down so smoothly makes him one of the best offensive prospects in this class. His area of development in recent years is his playmaking. With key teammates unavailable last year, he showed many flashes, where Jones thrives in his role as both the scorer and facilitator for Marquette.
With upperclassmen, it’s essential to value production slightly more compared to their underclassman peers. In Jones’ case, Marquette’s run in the tournament while consistently stuffing the stat sheet determines a large chunk of his draft range. For the NBA, he’s a plug-and-play two-guard who can carry the ball-handling duties while taking a step back and focusing more on his spot-up shooting and closeout attacks. The defensive principles Coach Smart instilled in his system helped Jones improve on the other end of the floor. Regardless of Jones’ statistical outcome, he’s guaranteed to get this name called on draft night, but the production and team success will determine how high he will go on draft night.
Original Scouting Report
29. Hugo González Peña — Real Madrid
Wing/Forward — 6’6” — 205 pounds — 2006
Link to Team Bio
He’s playing for one of the best teams in Europe. Therefore, the lack of minutes shouldn’t be something to hold against him. González Peña has the role of a switchable defensive-minded floor-spacer. The shot is a work in progress, but his experience coming through the successful Spanish youth ranks helped him to become one of the top defenders among young players in Europe. He’s quickly developing his body, adding more muscle to his frame.
On top of that, González Peña brings valuable passing potential at his wing size, with the ability to thrive as a connecting wing who takes on guard responsibilities as well. The long-term potential is in his physical tools, where the realistic switchability from one to four makes him a valuable asset for playoff settings. But he has to become stronger and find more comfort and consistency in his three-point shooting. That’s the area NBA scouts should focus on this season.
30. Miles Byrd — San Diego State
Combo Guard — 6’7” — 190 pounds — Sophomore
Link to Team Bio
NBA teams are buying physical tools and on-ball creation with Byrd. The separator for him is thriving in a reduced role, where he’ll complement ball-dominant guards with ease. His ability to use his craft, footwork, and poise to create advantages will translate early. On top of that, his handles in advantage-creation and feel for the game as a defender gives him a defined role as a floor-spacer and versatile defender. The maturity of his game was visible in the big games San Diego State played in their non-conference schedule, putting Byrd on the radar of more NBA scouts.
Original Scouting Report
The Second Round
Stay tuned for selections #31 to #60, which will be published within the next few days! To summarize today’s read, he’s a graphic of the first 30 picks:
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Great in depth list & evaluation. One error - in your First Round list/narrative #12 Joson Sanon attends Arizona State not Arizona.
Will be very interested to see the rationale for having Derik Queen in the second round. Based on his play and the weight he's already lost, he's likely to lose more, I'd be surprised if he's not a lottery pick.